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story Maureen
Scott photographs
Steve Uhraney If you were asked which sport is played most by Canadians - hockey, soccer or golf - what you would you answer? “It’s golf!” smiles Scott Simmons, Executive Director and CEO of Golf Canada, governed by the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA). “One in five Canadians plays golf - more than any other sport - just ahead of hockey. Six million people play at least once a year. Three million of those are core golfers. These are great statistics but who is lying awake at night figuring out how to grow those numbers?” You can be sure that Scott is doing just that. There are 343,000 Golf Canada members nationwide. Scott is on a mission to convince the rest of the avid golfers across the country to throw down $30 for an annual membership fee which helps support programs like National Golf in Schools, CN Future Links Learn to Play, Junior National Skills Challenge, and also contributes to the success of Team Canada, Canada’s National Amateur Golf Team. (For more information on Learn to Play and Junior programs see our story called So You Think Your Kid Can Golf. Now What?) Membership perks include discounts on CN Canadian Women’s Open and RBC Canadian Open tickets, an official handicap factor, a virtual club membership and more. “The RCGA was formed in 1895 by the 10 founding golf courses that recognized the need for an association to run a national championship, oversee a common set of rules, and future core elements of the game such as handicapping and course rating,” explains Scott. “We are still basically the same today, however, in 2005 our mandate grew when the Federal Government, through Sport Canada, decided that every major sport in the country should have a National Sport Organization (NSO), whose responsibility it is to grow that sport. The RCGA was named the NSO for golf, and we have recently rebranded our consumer facing brand to Golf Canada.” So where does one begin to make golf perceived as a household sport? “At the base of the pyramid." he says. "We take golf to kids through our National Golf in Schools Program.” “When I went to school, we played volleyball and basketball, but no golf. Two years ago we began supplying elementary schools with a golf curriculum and kits which basically look like a hockey bag, which are filled with plastic clubs, flags and balls. In some provinces, a CPGA golf pro will go into the school and teach the odd class. We have 1,000 of the 10,000 elementary schools participating and we are currently working on a high school equivalent.” Each kit costs $500. Golfers can adopt a school and receive a tax receipt. “I adopted my elementary school in Brantford,” smiles Scott. “We’d like to see more young people get into the game. Golf teaches valuable life skills such as honesty, respect, self discipline, and it’s the only game in the world where you call penalties on yourself!” Scott started playing golf around age eight with his father and grandfather at Lynn Meadows near Port Dover, Ontario. It was at Northridge Golf Club in Brantford, Ontario where he had his first job –washing golf clubs in the backshop. Later, he caddied at The Brantford Golf and Country Club. “I’m just a small town boy from Brantford,” he laughs. From “backshop boy” to Executive Director/CEO of Golf Canada, Scott is living proof that dreams can come true. Ironically, while studying at the prestigious Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario in the early 1980’s, as part of a school paper, Scott interviewed the then Executive Director of the RCGA, the late Geordie Hilton at Golf House. Later, as part of his post-graduate work with International Management Group (IMG), Scott consulted for the RCGA, and in fact, wrote a 10 year business plan, which was adopted by the Association. Scott spent seven years as the Director of Marketing and Communications for the RCGA, helping to raise over seven million dollars in annual sponsorships. He then spent another seven years in management of The Beer Store as Vice-President of Marketing and Business Development, before returning once again to the RCGA, where he has spent the last four years in his current role. Along with his wife Danita and their four daughters, he lives here in Mississauga. “Golf and beer,” he laughs. “My friends say that I’ve had their two dream jobs! There’s a saying that if you love playing golf, don’t get into the golf business. I play maybe 15 to 20 times a year tops.” But before you feel too sorry for Scott, his next “business trip” is attending The Masters in Augusta, Georgia. He gets to rub elbows with the likes of Jim Furyk, Ernie Els, and Mike Weir as he oversees The RBC Canadian Open each year at various venues across the country. He also works with the CPGA and Provincial Golf Associations in the development of the top male and female amateur players, offering world class coaching and funding. “We are helping to develop elite athletes who will be our next Mike Weir or Lori Kane. Nick Taylor and Matt Hill, who are now pro, were the top two ranked male amateurs in the world in 2009. It’s a very exciting time in Canadian golf. We are enabling our young stars to travel the world and compete with the best.” Golf is once again an Olympic sport and Golf Canada is a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee. “We are very excited about golf being a sport in the 2016 Olympics in Rio, and defending our Gold medal” says Scott. “Most people are unaware that golf was last played in the Olympics in St. Louis in 1904, and was won by Canadian George S. Lyon. It’s great to have golf back in the games as it will raise visibility, and help countries around the world to grow the sport. The Olympics create heroes and inspire young people to take up the game.” The Olympic playing field will be decided by the world rankings of the top 60 male and female golfers in the world. Players ranked from 1 to 15 get in regardless of where they are from, and after that, a maximum of two players per country can compete. “We want to have at least two Canadians compete, but if we could manage to have three or four players in the top 15 that would be a dream come true. The number of Canadians on golf scholarships to U.S. schools continues to grow. For years, Mike Weir was the only Canadian on the PGA Tour, but now there are six men on the Tour and five women on the LPGA Tour - more than we’ve seen in decades. We are beginning to see the fruits of our labour.” Scott’s challenge now is financial sustainability. “Right now our expenses exceed revenue,” says Scott. “One way to balance the budget is to cut programs which we don’t want to do. We’d rather grow revenues by finding more members and corporate sponsors. There are 3 million core golfers, so it can be done. Our mandate is to promote passion and participation in the game.” Judging from Scott’s passion for the game, and his firm handshake, the game of golf is in good hands. GL |
 Sport: “My passion is golf and I love to play recreational hockey. I’m also a big Leafs Fan.”
Saying: “There are two seasons in Canada: Golf and Hockey.” Movie: "Slapshot" and "Tin Cup" Best Golf Shot or Game: 71 (a long time ago!) Ideal Foursome: My Dad, my brother, and my late Grandfather. Book: Golf Canada magazine Website: www.golfcanada.ca Best Memory: The birth of my kids Hero: My Mom and Dad |